Barbara Smail Award

The nomination period for the 2017 Barbara Smail Award has now ended. Thank you!

The Barbara Smail Award was established in 2003 by friends and family of Barbara Smail, a well-loved and highly respected artist from the Burlington area who died in the fall of 2001. The award is given on an annual basis to a mid-career, Vermont-based artist who has a desire to expand his or her creative experience, has displayed enthusiastic support of his or her peers and has been under-recognized in the community either through exhibition or other awards and programs. While the award is open to artists from across the state, it is our hope that the recipient will utilize Burlington City Arts’ facilities and resources. Therefore, please take into account the artist’s location and/or ability to travel when making your nomination.

The award is valued at $2,500. The recipient is awarded a $1,500 cash stipend and $1,000 worth of class registration and/or usage of The BCA Center's studio facilities (this includes the Print and Clay Studio at 250 Main Street, as well as the Community Darkroom at The BCA Center) for one year. The recipient also receives a one-year Individual Membership to BCA. ​Finally, the artist is asked to donate an artwork to BCA as a way to help support the program. Specific details will be discussed with the artist.

Each year, nominations are made by individuals on the BCA’s Gallery Advisory Committee, Board of Directors, as well as members of the Vermont community.

2017 Recipient: Elise Whittemore

Nomination instructions:

Criteria to Consider:

Quality of the artist’s work.

Demonstrated commitment to the community through avenues such as teaching, collaborations with fellow artists, support for peers, public art initiatives, etc.

Artist has demonstrated a desire to grow artistically and would be able to utilize BCA’s studios and classes, so the award will provide mutual enrichment.

Mid-career artist. Not age-specific, but refers to the artist having had substantial engagement with the arts, yet he/she may also remain under-recognized.

Statement of Endorsement:
Please describe how the nominee exemplifies Barbara Smail’s passion for encouraging artists and the arts in the Vermont community. Be sure to touch upon how the artist intersects with the spirit of the Barbara Smail Award:

Vermont-based mid-career, artist who has a desire to expand his or her creative experience,

has displayed enthusiastic support of his or her peers

has been under-recognized in the community either through exhibition or other awards and programs.

Additional Information:
Please limit submissions to one per person. Once an artist has been nominated, BCA will contact the artist to obtain images and information about the work to accompany the nomination.

BCA’s Exhibition Committee will review all nominations and, by majority, vote to select the year’s winner.

This year’s annual award reception and announcement will take place at The BCA Center on April 15, 2016. This is also the opening reception for the 2015 Barbara Smail Awardee, Clark Derbes’ exhibition.